New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-09
INVESTIGATING WARDS ISLAND.
rwO MORE OF THE PATIENTS RELEASED
A conoNER's JURY FINDS THAT FRITZ AND LEDDELL
DIED IRON NATURAL CAUSES.


A conoNER's JURY FINDS THAT FRITZ AND LEDDELL
DIED FROM NATURAL CAUSES.
The sheriA's jury appointed TO inquire into the
mental condition of Christian August Cramer. an In
mate of the Wards Island Insane Asylum began its
session yesterday. Mr.. Cramer testified that he was
committed to the asylum April 80, 1887. He was
sixtythree years olo, and was born near Darustadt
Germany. He was arrested. he said, on Aprii 20
taken to the police station in Thirteth-s ana tnero
lady made complaint against hun that ne mao
insulted her. Mr. Cramer stoutly denied It. Az
Jefferson Market Police Court he was commit d 10
the asylum For nearly thirty hours alter his arrest
he was without food or drink. He was hurried away
to Bellevue Hospital and thence sent TO the asylum
Mr. Cramer said he had protested against this as o
citizen OF this country OF thirty years standing He
had peen butler tor five years for August Belmont
Mrs Rjnghari It, of No. 223 East T wenty second st.
said that Mr.. Cramer had lived ut her house for
fifteen years and had shown no extraordinary
symptoms Erhart Kramer. publi'her at NOS. eZZ
aad S24 Broadway, said he had known MI. Cramer
for many years and would stake his lite that be was
sane.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Scott urged that the
phy siclans of the asylum were not willing TO certify
that Mr. Cramcr should be released. DR.. Trautmau,
the experimenting physician OF the asylum, testified
that Mr. Crsmer suffering from gener al paress in
mild form Mr.. Cramer, the witness implied, had
right and lett. Miss Wolfe and Miss Goel-t were
among those BY whom Mr. Cramer alleged al
vancrs" had been made to him.
fun Of GAINES iaborDg under the deuson
oTs WIN nsn are esit Question
Juror No Ais there any man who 10 Tree from these
pr Douglass of the asylum. testified that Mr. Cramer
had said that Miss Goelet was IN love with MIN mr.
was similarly disposed him. aud he knew thus
from the fact that Wolfe had in certain pew in
mon which conhrtaed Mr.. Crsmer in his views
Miss Katie Cramer, neice te'tned tnat ner hncse
The Jury unanimously found Mr.. Cramer OF sane
mind after short consultation and his discharge was
In the case of Meyer Wolfe bis wife signed
take care OF him. and Mr. Scott agreed 10 allow him his
liberty DIR. Trautman concurring
oroner Levy yesterday held inquest IN the cases of
patients who recently died there after having received
Injuries the hands OF other patients From the a-
topsies however found that death was not due
TO violence but to natural causes The first witness
called Francis McCann an attendant at the asylum,
who said reference to the case OF Carl Frtz winch
was first taken up;
July % about vh. on duty hs;v my tspoR
moment found Fritz living the floor and apparently
lett leg
Dr. Douglass explained the condition in which he
found Fritz and said
endeavo,ed to make investigation to learn
possible had fallen Fritz spoke only German An
mcned @na through him Frlsz said
e b oSs pushed hum but had not him dowr
fallen while sussenoereer had his hand upon
Dr. Hathaway, who treated the patient after the aeei,
dent said he had died from acute dlarrnoea the
fracture acting perhaps a contributing cause Dr.
Trautman then questioned bv the coroner ana the
Jurors He explained that Fritz had been suffering
with attack OF diarrhoea before he received his
injuries. He therefore, in q very weak and ex-
hausted condition. Locomoton was dit1cuit, ana IL
would take little him 10 fall THIS
finished the evidence in the The jury found that
Fritz died from natural causes. but recommended that
the city should furnish the asylum with more attendants
70 meet such cases in the future
The Coroner then announced an hours recess, aler
which the Leddell was taken up. Deputy Coroner
the opinion formed from the autopsy
was that the man had TO his death from heart fa
ure advanced disease OF the kidneys lie also lounu
that there slight laceraed wound OF the mouth
said TO have been received by kick, but he did not
think that this an acceeratlng cause OF DEATH
DR. Trautman said that Ledden, a man about thirty
kidney disease and heart trouble. On August the
patient had gone to washcioset ana had thcre meV
another patient named konler at whom WHOM, ne s"0r ore
prevented from hurting him ny the interference Oh an
attendant who attempted to take Leddell away AS he
WAS doing so, however Leddell leaned over toWaru
Eonler who kicked him in the mouth. The keeper led
him awRv and then, noticing that blood was moving
from his mouth took him back toward tue washcloset
TO wash the blood from his face Before he reached
there, the patient fell TO the floor dead -
Head Attendant Cranshaw and Attendant forde con
peced with the ward in which Lecdell was Kept retod
the story of the kicking. -, -.
The Jury found that the deceased came to his death
from accidental at the hands OF patient
and recommended that the number OF attehuants az
the ASYLUM lie increased aud that the compensation OF
such attendants be raised to decent living ngure
"We further recommend" the verdict continues, that
a least onethrd of the attendants should be able 10
understand speak the German language ana tnat
at least person be employed IN eacn wafd VINO
thoroughly understands the care and custody oil insane
persons and their treatment in cases OF emergency
Judge Gderslceve i'll the General Sessions court yes
terday lived the bail of Patrick Ceary and James NC
Hugh the Wards Island keepers who are under lndic
ment for mansaughtrr in causing death of George
Parrish, at $1,000 in the case of each prisoner